DREAM 2026 Annual Convening

Join us at Achieving the Dream’s annual flagship event, DREAM, for a discussion of how online college courses can better support student motivation, engagement, and help-seeking behaviors.

Supporting Student Success in Online Courses: A Model for Self-Directed Learning

Tuesday, March 3, 10:30am PT

How can online college courses better support student motivation, engagement, and help-seeking behaviors? Hosted by the Postsecondary Teaching with Technology Collaborative, this session will explore student experiences in online courses and the role that self-directed learning (SDL) can play in promoting student success.

Presenters will share and reflect on key findings from the iterative development and testing of an SDL Instructional Model—a set of low-lift practical strategies to enhance learning and engagement online—across five broad-access colleges and universities. College administrators, instructors, and students will also share their first-hand experiences using the model.

Attendees will receive instructor resources for integrating the model’s strategies into online courses, as well as a strategic guide for campus instructional leaders to develop a plan for broader adoption.

Presenters

  • Susan Bickerstaff, Senior Research Associate
    Community College Research Center (CCRC), Teachers College, Columbia University
  • Brian Jones, Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, Odessa College
  • Jessica Mislevy, Senior Researcher, SRI
  • Nikki Handley, Developmental Math Coordinator and Instructor, Odessa College
  • Ariela Lange, Associate Professor, Developmental Mathematics, Odessa College
  • Neyeli Dominguez, Student, Odessa College
  • Cheyenne Natividad, Student, Odessa College

Materials

Learn more on the Conference program website.

Categories: Past Event

Tags: Instructional Strategies Online Learning Postsecondary Learning